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What would this buck score?

I think most of you guys are ballpark with the 120 ish guess but if it was me and I was hunting this deer, I would pass him because he's gonna be really nice next year. Looks to be maybe 4 & 1/2 yo and they usually take a big jump from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2. I do mostly hunt private though so if he was on public I think I might have to re-think that strategy. Beautiful buck though.
 
I'm going to go low 100's, below 115. I'd really say in between 105 and 110 is a solid range. I think it's crazy how often and how much folks mis judge size. A 115 inch 8 point is a super solid buck, a true 160" deer looks incredibly big, especially with your hands on it. Think about the difference between a 160 and a 120 inch deer, that's close to 3 addition feet of antler on the 160...... I think folks would be amazed at what actually even cracks the100 inch scale if they got their deer measured. . . . .
 
ThePennsylvanian said:
I'm going to go low 100's, below 115. I'd really say in between 105 and 110 is a solid range. I think it's crazy how often and how much folks mis judge size. A 115 inch 8 point is a super solid buck, a true 160" deer looks incredibly big, especially with your hands on it. Think about the difference between a 160 and a 120 inch deer, that's close to 3 addition feet of antler on the 160...... I think folks would be amazed at what actually even cracks the100 inch scale if they got their deer measured. . . . .
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Everyone that says they would pass... I admire your hunting abilities (or your lying on the internet abilities ;) ) because I'd definitely without a doubt 100% take a shot but probably miss from the buck shakes if that guy walked by at 35 yards or less. Heck I would have a hard time not trying to stretch my "acceptable" distance if I saw him at 45.
 
That is a very respectable deer here on public land, and on a lot of private. I'd shoot him 100% unless there was a 125 inch walking right behind him, lol.
 
ThePennsylvanian said:
I'm going to go low 100's, below 115. I'd really say in between 105 and 110 is a solid range. I think it's crazy how often and how much folks mis judge size. A 115 inch 8 point is a super solid buck, a true 160" deer looks incredibly big, especially with your hands on it. Think about the difference between a 160 and a 120 inch deer, that's close to 3 addition feet of antler on the 160...... I think folks would be amazed at what actually even cracks the100 inch scale if they got their deer measured. . . . .
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An 8 point gets 17 measurements (a 10 pt gets 19) and misjudging each one of those measurements (on the hoof or in a photo) by only an inch leads to a substantial error in judging the gross score, let alone the net score.
I'm always pretty happy if I can be within 8-10 inches.
My best field judge was a nice buck we had here several years ago. I'd seen him multiple times and judged him to be 140". A neighbor killed him a month later and I got to measure him...140 1/8". It took a lot of encounters with that buck to get an accurate estimate.
It's amazing how misleading just a couple pics, or even eyes-on encounters, can be.
I like to put them into "classes" within the area that I'm hunting. Don't shoot yearlings or 2.5s wherever I am hunting. 3 year olds get a green light here at home. Ohio and Iowa bucks gotta be 4+ unless I've misjudged.
Gotta keep goals in perspective relative to the area you are hunting.
 
Its impossible for me to guess a velvet buck. The velvet just throws me way off.

Circumference of 1.5" circle (typical mass measurement in my area) is 4.71" whereas with velvet maybe it's 2" (circumference of 6.28") which adds 1.57" to one measurement. Multiple that times each mass measurement and it adds up to over 12" Completely guessing that velvet would add 0.5" to each diameter. Is my math accurate?
 
I'm gonna guess 108, good luck to your son and I hope you can report back!
 
Nutterbuster said:
I'm curious

View attachment 70866

What's this one score? He weighed 200lbs live
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Buck above was 103 and something/eighths according to my tape. Extremely respectable here, especially for a 7.

Dad and I have a wall-full of 3.5-5.5 year-old south alabama whitetails. The biggest is maybe 110. There are some 90s in there.

I don't think the OP's buck has 120", much less 135. It's pretty tough for an 8 pointer to crack 125 typical.
 
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